Manufacturing Process
199.24 parts of N-(p-methylphenyl)-m'-hydroxyphenylamine and 77.52 parts of 2-chloromethylimidazoline hydrochloride are heated for sixteen hours in an oil bath having a temperature of 150°C, while stirring and introducing a current of nitrogen. The viscous contents of the flask are then cooled to about 100°C, mixed with 400 parts by volume of hot water, and stirred for a short time.
After further cooling to about 60°C, 200 parts by volume of water and 500 parts by volume of ethyl acetate at 60°C are added, and the aqueous layer is separated. The excess of starting material may be recovered from the ethyl acetate.
The aqueous portion is chilled in a cooling chamber at -10°C, whereupon the hydrochloride of 2-[N-(p-methylphenyl)-N-(m'-hydroxyphenyl)-aminomethyl]imidazoline crystallizes. Upon being concentrated and cooled the mother liquor yields a further quantity of the hydrochloride. The combined quantities of hydrochloride are treated with a small quantity of cold water, dried with care, and washed with ethyl acetate. The product is then crystallized from a mixture of alcohol and ethyl acetate, and there is obtained a hydrochloride melting at 239°-240°C.